Method and apparatus for liquid treatment of rayon



May 7, 1940. G. M; ALLEN Er AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT 0F RAYON Filed Sept. 27, 193'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1940. G. M. ALLEN Er AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT OF RAYON Filed Sept. 27, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE M. ALLEN HENRY J. MC DERMOTT 4.JOHN WATSON FEDLOW BY 'rl-Esa ATTORNEYS #Wm www M337 1940- G. M. ALLEN ET AL A 2200.197

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT 0F RAYON Filed Sept. 27. 1/93'7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTORS GEORGE M. ALL HENRY J. MC DERMOTT' JOHN WATSON PEDLow BY THEIR ATTORNEYS ../Ycnmwum Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT F RAYON of Delaware Applieetien september 27, 1937, serial Ne. 105.976

4 Claims.

This invention relates to method and apparatus, for liquid treatment of rayon, more particularly in a coil form such as a cake or skein, and has for its main object to improve the penetration of the cake or skein by the treating liquid and the distribution of the liquid throughout the cake or skein.

In the manufacture of rayon by the Wet spinning process, the spinning solution is extruded through a spinneret into a coagulating bath, and the filaments so formed are passed over godets and through a funnel into a spinning box rotating at high speed, whichtwists the filaments into thread and throws it against the wall of the spinning box, and builds up a cake of yarn therein, which cake is'removed from the box for further treatment, such as washing, bleaching and desulphurizing operations.

These cakes so produced are characterized by ticular advantage in improving'the penetration and distribution of the treating liquid into the yarn in the cake form, without skeining and especially when such cakes have been formed at high box speeds. Attempts to facilitate this by working or flexing the cake as spun are likely to break the filaments, due to their Weak condition. It is therefore a further object to soften or break down the annular structure of the cake during l the liquid treating operation. This has the important advantage of permitting the cake to recover from temporary strains which are always present in centrifugally spun cakes.

According to the present invention, cakes of rayon produced by the bucket spinning process are wrapped inside and out in a liquid permeable flexible wrapping, and passed over a hollow supporting tube having perforations through which treating liquid under pressure supplied to the tube is forced out against the inner side of the wrapped cake. A special shape of angular cross section with a wide flat side is preferred for the tube, and the perforations arepreferably in rows nearer the edges of the flat side than the center thereof.

A series of these tubes arevmounted on a carriage and connected to the source of the first treating liquid. The tubes are periodically rotated to bring other parts of the wrapped cakes into position. After the treatment with this liquid is completed, the movement of the carriage brings it into position for connection to the source of the next treating liquid, and so on until the processing is completed.

The liquid permeable flexible wrapping is preferably of fabric, which in turn is preferably constructed of rayon, to avoid nap or fuzz such as that of cotton fibers, which tend to catch on the filaments of the cake. Knitted rayon tubing is particularly satisfactory, as it can be inexpensively produced from second quality yarn.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to project the treating liquid from the inside to the outside of the cake, by hanging the cakes over perforated liquid supply tubes,`and also to rotate the tubes tochange the position of the cakes thereon to bring other portions thereof into position for treatment. Cake rotation also tends to break up air or vapor pockets within the cake. A round tube does not allow for satisfactory penetration, because the inside face of the cake resting on the tube merely deflects the flow of solution so that it follows the contour of the tube and is ineffective. Furthermore upon rotation of a round'tube the cake remains stationary with respect to the tube which slides thereunder instead of shifting the cake to a new position.

If rotation is continued in one direction the yarn on the inside of the cakes winds up and forms tight bands. yThis `condition is overcome by reversing the direction, butif only alternate directions o-f rotation are used, the cake has only two positions. According to the present ,invention by continuing the rotation in one direction for the duration of one solution and reversing the direction for the succeeding solution treatment, thorough penetration of all parts of the cake is assured.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one formin which our invention may be carried into effect.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cake or skein Washing machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the same in operation for Washing cakes;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section 'taken alon the line 2--2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a section of one form of a treating liquid supply tube;

Figure 5 is a similar view of a modied form;

Figure 6 is a similar view of the preferred form, showing the cake being4 applied thereto by a Weighting rod;

Figure 7 shows the form of Figure 6 in operative position; and

Figure 8 shows the same in operation, after the annular structure of the cake has been softened or broken up;

The cake of yarn in its hard or tight annular structure as produced by the bucket spinning process is shown aty I8 in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The permeable wrapping in the preferred form of a fabric envelope is also shown as comprising an inner side `or band I2 and an outer side or band I3, the band I3 containing the joint formed by the fastening I4 (Figure 1).

The machine shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a carriage having rollers 2I supporting the same on tracks 22 for horizontal movement therealong. Hollow shafts 24 are horizontally journalled in bearings23 supported by the oarriage frame.

As shown in Figure 3 there are two levels or rows of shafts, uniformly spaced in each row, but staggered with respect to the other. The shafts of the upper and lower rows are geared together for rotation in opposite directions, by gearing 25. A pinion 26 on each lower shaft meshing with a gear 48 on a stub shaft on the carriage, in turn meshing with a low rack 21 which is stationary with the tracks 22, causes rotation of the shafts when movement of the carriage brings the gear 48 into mesh with the rack 21. A high rack 49 spaced beyond and at one side of the rack 21, meshes direct with the pinion 28 upon further movement of the carriage, and causes reverse rotation of all of the shafts 24.

As shown in Figure 2 each shaft passes through a stationary T 28, and is provided with a rotary sealing collar 29 on each side thereof. Each shaft has one or more apertures 38 registering with the lateral branch of the T 28. In the form shown, the single aperture 30 is closed by the T when the shaft 24 is turned lto inoperative position, but it is to be understood that this is not essential, because the number and size of the apertures may be suflicient to maintain continuous communication between the T 28 and the shaft 24.

The lateral branch of each T 28 on the shafts of the upper level is coued for example. by rubber hose to a nipple 3l on a cross pipe 32 which has a supply pipe 33 terminating in a receiving trough 34. Similar nipples, cross pipe and supply pipe are provided for the Ts on the shafts of the lower level.

The outer ends of the shafts 24 are ilanged for bolting to flanges on the inner ends of tubes 35, forming a liquid tight joint 36. The tubes 35 are of corrosion-resisting material such as K stainless steel. 'I'hese tubes are perforated, but

.and a removable fiber disk 38 is secured on the tube near the outer closed end thereof.

In operation of this machine, the rods are turned concave side up, the outer berI disks aaoaiav 38 are removed, and the cakes in their annular form and wrapped in permeable coverings, having been hung on loose weighting rods 39, are passed over the tubes 35 and hung thereon, about four cakes to each tube, after which the disks 38 are replaced. The rods are then rotated 180 in order to bring the perforated side on top, at the same time allowing the weighting rods to fall into position. The rods weight down the cakes, thereby insuring proper sealing action as well as their turning with the tube.

The machine then moves along the track, and the rack and gearing rotates the rods to open the valve formed by the T 28, as shown in Figure 2. This movement has brought the carriage,

into position for the first treating liquid to be supplied to the troughs 34, and descend in the supply pipes 33 for distribution through cross pipes 32 to the tubes 35.

When the treatment with the first liquid is completed and the same has drained o the cakes, the further movement of the carriage reaches the high rack 49 which rotates the shafts 24 through 360 in the reverse direction and thereby brings other portions of the cakes on the tubes 35` around into position. The next treating liquid is then supplied to the troughs 34, and the operation continued over the succeeding tanks until the cakes have been treated with the desired numberand sequence of different liquids.

'I'he shape of the tube 35 is important because it provides a new method of liquid treating the cakes, the liquid passing through the cakes from the inside to the outside. A triangular form shown in Figure 4, a flattened or rounded rectangular form in Figure 5, and a special form is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, in which the tube is substantially triangular with one edge rendered concave. In all of these forms the tube has one wide, substantially flat surface 40 terminating in longitudinal edges 4I and provided with rows of perforations 42 nearer to the edges than to the center thereof. A round rod would be unsatisfactory, because the cakes thereon would slide instead of shifting. Perforations in the bottom of the rod would merely cause loss of liquid.

The upper parts of the cake mounted on the tube 35, when the rst treating liquid is being supplied, and before the cake has softened, appear as shown in Figure 7. 'Ihe cake arches over the at face 40 and rests on the edges 4I which form a seal, the iber end disks closing the ends of this inclosed space to form a chamber 44.

The liquid under pressure supplied to the tube 35 is forced out through the perforations 42.n 'I'his pressure is sufficient to penetrate theinner side I2 of the permeable cover, and the strands of the cake thereabove, but not suiiicient to break the seal at the edges 4I. The strands of the cake however deflect the liquid so that it penetrates all portions of the cake.

The strands of the cake in opposing the pressure and defiecting the iiow are loosened, and the cake is swelled or inflated as shown in Figure 8. The weight of the cake and the contained liquid, and also the weighting rod combine to cause the cake to separate into layers, and to sag down to the elliptical form shown in Figure 8. Henceforth the cake behaves much as a small skein in all subsequent treatments.`

The penetration and deflection of the liquid tend to loosen the cake which in turn facilitates the penetration of the liquid into the cake with known drip methods and the treatment is far further loosening, until a complete distribution of the treating liquid throughout all parts of the cake is accomplished.

When the tube has a substantially flat face with longitudinal edges on which the cake can rest, a seal or pocket is formed. 'I'he solution then finds its way radially through the structure of the cake, some continuing to the outside and running down the sides, and a portion of the solution makes its way around the circumference of the cake, taking its course along the buried layers of yarn. After a brief treatment of the cake mounted on such a tube the cake becomes flooded with solution and the annular structure is loosened. 'It hangs as a small limp hank or skein on the tube.

As the treatment is prolonged, for example about five minutes, the cakes swell to a width regulated by the cake covers. Finally, the spaces between the cakes are closed off so that what remains is essentially a hollow tube formed by the complementary flooded cakes and closed at each endl byilanges largeenough to cover the end dimensions ofthe cakes. Consequently, the solution pockets in the inside of the cakes until sumcient head pressure forces it through the same. f

During the liquid treatment, the portion of the cake over the iiat face exes and the arcs of the layers of rayon which comprise this portion become more like chords, thus allowing the succes-- sive layers to collapse and separate from each other. This portion due to the flexing or separation of the layers is more permeable to the flow of liquid thereinto.

The most ecient shape for the sealing is the triangular shae, but, to facilitate the loading, a rounded bottom which will not catch or groove the cakes is preferred, with a central groove for guiding the weighting rod with the cakes thereon into place, the receding sides vcharacteristic of the triangular form being preserved.

The position of the holes with respect to the edges of the rods is quite important. If the holes are placed in the apex no seal is made and consequently no penetration is possible. The desired effect is accomplished when the perforations are nearer to the side edges than to the center of the flat surface.

As a distinct contrast to any of the drip, `static head, immersion or centrifugal methods whereby the rigidity of the calke is maintained, the present method loosens up the cake and destroys the compact annular structure. As the cake is limp, there are no further strains added during the liquid treatment due to yarn shrinkage. On drying a cake processed in this manner, the strained condition attendant with rigid cakes is reduced to a minimum, if not eliminated.

When the coil form happens to be a larger skein such as is obtained by reeling on a swift the same method and apparatus can be utilized. However, inasmuch as such skeins are already in a limp state the operation proceeds much more quickly. The skeins, either wrapped in a protecting cover or unwrapped, are hung onthe perforated rod such that each rod contains, say, 12 to 20 skeins, depending on the length and weight of the yarn. Penetration and subsequent thorough treatment take place immediately. Consequently it is advisable to increase the frequency of rotation so that new positions will continually be presented to the treated liquids. The time of the entire operation is substantially less than that required by the more thorough.

The invention as described above is adapted for dyeing as well as other liquid treatment, and the apparatus and procedure may be subjected to various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will therefore be understood that this invention embraces such adaptations and modifications as fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. In ay machine for the liquid treatment of rayon in coil form, a hollow tube for supporting a row of rayon coils, said tube having a substantially fiat top with longitudinally extending side edges, and side walls depending therefrom and converging therebelow, whereby said tube engages the interior of said row of coils only at said side edges at the beginning of "the liquid treatment, thereby concentrating the entire weight of said coils on said side edges to eiect a sealing relation to prevent escape of treating liquid between said coils and said edges, the part of each coil above said flat top being supported from said side edges solely by the coil rigidity at the beginning of the treatment, said flat top having a longitudinally extending row of jet like Yperforations closely adjacent each side edge and being substantially imperforate therebetween, said machine having means for supplying liquid under pressure to said hollow tube, whereby jets of treating liquid issuing from said perforations impinge upon the interior of said coils thereabove'closely adjacent the points of sole support thereof, thereby effecting deep penetration of said coils without lifting said coils from said side edges, thereby preserving said sealing relation.

2.In a machine for the liquid treatment of rayon in coil form, a hollow tube for supporting a row of rayon coils, said tube having a substantially fiat top with longitudinally extending side edges, and side walls depending therefrom and converging therebelow, whereby at the beginning of the liquid treatment said tube engages the interior of said row of coils only at said side edges, thereby concentrating the entire weight of said coils on said side edges to effect a sealing relation to prevent escape of treating liquid between said side edges and said interior of said row of coils, said flat top having a longitudinally extending row of perforations Aclosely adjacent each side edge and being substantially imperforate therebetween, said machine having means for supplying liquid under pressure to said hollow tube, whereby jets of. treating `liquid issuing from said perforations impinge upon the interior of said coils thereabove closely adjacent the points of sole support thereof, thereby effecting deep penetration of said coils without lifting said coils from said side edges, thereby preserving said sealing relation, said tube being rotatably mounted and having a face opposite to said iiattop which is shaped to form a longitudinal groove adapted to freely support a wash rod when said fiat top is facing downward.

3. In a machine for the liquid treatment of rayon in coil form, a hollow tube for supporting a row of rayon coils, said tube having a substantially flat top with longitudinally extending side edges, and side walls depending therefrom and converging therebelow, whereby said tube engages the interior of said row of coils only at said side edges at the beginning of said liquid treatment, thereby concentrating the entire weight of 75 said coils on said side edges to effect a sealing relation to prevent escape of treating liquid between the interior of said coils and said side edges, said at top having a longitudinally extending row of jet like perforations closely adjacent each side edge, said machine having means for supplying iiuid under pressure to said hollow tube, whereby jets of treating liquid issuing from said perforations impinge upon the interior of said coils thereabove closely adjacent the points of sole support thereof, thereby effecting deep penetration of said coils Without lifting said coils from said side edges, thereby preserving said sealing relation, said tube being rotatably mounted and having a face opposite to said iiat top which is shaped to form a pair of longitudinal ridges sacara? adapted to engage the interior of said coils when said tube is rotated and thereby cause rotation with said tube of the parts of said coils engaging said ridges.

4. Method for the liquid treatment of rayon in coil form, which comprises passing coils of rayon over a rod member, passing said rod member and coils over a tubular supporting member in guided relation, and rotating the tubular supporting member to cause the coils to contact therewith and the rod member to be suspended by the coils and maintain the coils in position on the tubular supporting member.

GEORGE M. ALLEN. HENRY J. MCDERMO'I'I. JOHN WATSON PEDLOW. 

